Tile placing machine

ABSTRACT

A system for use in applying similarly sized tiles to a prepared bed of adhesive or cement which includes a collector means to apply pressure to a plurality of tiles arranged in a row to imbed them in the adhesive and force applying means comprising extendible pistons movably supported on guide tracks above the tile collector means to be extended to apply pressure to the collector means.

United States Patent Valdes 51 July 25, 1972 s41 TILE PLACING MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLlCATlONS [72] Inventor: Juan J. Valdes, 884 43rd St., Apt. 9C, 3 I 7,708 8/1931 Great Britain 52/749 Brooklyn 232 1,143,103 2/1969 Great Britain ..$2/749 Filed: Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott [2]] Appl No: 84.800 Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun ABSTRACT [52] US. CL ..$1/749, l56/l60 A system for use in applying similarly sized m to a prepared 1 llll' 21/20, 21/22 bed of adhesive or cement which includes a collector means to [58] Field 01 Search ..52/749; 156/160, 16 l, 162 apply ressure to a plurality ottiles arranged in a row to imbed them in the adhesive and force applying means comprising ex- 56] References Cited tendible pistons movably supported on guide tracks above the tile collector means to be extended to apply pressure to the UNITED STATES PATENTS collector means.

3,375,633 4/1968 Poul-tau ..52/749 5 Chins, 13 Drawing figures Patented July 25, 1972 5 Sheets-Shoot l INVENTOR. uuA/v a. VAL 05$ ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1972 5 Sheets-Shut 2 UNVENTOR. JUAN J. VAL DES ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1972 5 Shuts-Shut 5 FIG. 5

FIG. ll

INVENTOR (/UA/V 1/. VALDfS ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 III FIG. 7

FIG. 8

INVENTOR (/UAM/ k La ATTO R N EY Patented July 25, 1972 3,578,645

5 Sheets-Shoot 5 FIG. 9

/ INVENTOR:

Q/UA/V VALUES BY. I y rar'zldxi Mu ATTORNEY ms: PLACING mourns BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that is often difficult to install tiles on fioor and wall surfaces because these surfaces are often uneven. In the past, there have been provided devices for arranging tiles to be placed on such surfaces in rows and columns with the individual tiles being spaced from one another, and this invention provides such a device and also means for leveling the tiles so as to place them in coplamar relationship with respect to each other. More specifically, this invention provides for a collector means for applying pressure simultaneously to the tiles of a row of tiles in a general uniform manner and to space the tiles to one another so that by setting each row separately, cyclically using the collector means, a pattern of tiles may be arranged and imbedded in a cementitious material or adhesive in a rapid, uniform and coplanar relation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved tile installing means or system which includes a collector means for the tile to orient the same and force applying means to simultaneously apply pressure to a row of tile in sideby-side relation by a force applying means comprising an extendible piston at the opposite ends of the row and guide track means for movement of the pistons along a horizontal path above the surface to which the tiles are being installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of one example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, and in which;

FIG. I is a perspective view a tile installing means illustrating the invention:

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the collector rack or means of FIG. I shown in an exploded relation;

FIG. 2b is an elevational view partially in cross section showing the tile grasping means of the collector rack partially in cross section;

FIG. 3a is a detailed perspective view of the connection between the extendible piston and the collector rack in an exploded relation;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view along line 3b-3b of FIG. 30;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the connection between the extendible piston and the collector rack;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 of one of the extendible piston of the collector rack;

FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view of the extendible piston along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of a portion of the tile installation means of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side-elevational view of the tile installation means of the invention showing a water leveling means for maintaining the tile set in one room at the same elevation as the tiles set in another room;

FIG. 9 is a side-elevational view of the tile setting means of the invention when used for mounting tiles on a wall surface;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the guide tracks for the tile installation means shown in an exploded relation;

and FIG. II is a perspective view of the means for supporting the guide tracks shown in an exploded relation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, with particular reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fioor 12 to be covered with tiles generally indicated by the numeral 14. Floor I2 is first covered with the usual bed of cementitious material 16 preferably with a trowel prior to applying the tiles l4 thereon. In practice the tiles I4 ought to be set one row next to the other into the bed of cementitious material. The apparatus of the invention is designed to place such rows of tiles into the bed of cementitious material in an effective and rapid manner while keeping the tile floor level. Thus the apparatus of the invention includes a collector rack, generally indicated by the numeral 18 and force applying means comprising a pair of extendible pistons 20. The pair of extendlble pistons 20 are movable on a pair of guide tracks 22 in a manner to be described hereinafter. The guide tracks 22 are mounted in a level manner by means of a pair of adjustable guide track support means generally indicated by the numeral 24 and illustrated in detail in FIG. I1. These adjustable guide track support means 24 will be described in detail hereinafter.

More specifically with continuing reference to FIG. I, the guide tracks 22 are mounted by means of the guide track support means 24 on a wall or other support structure above the floor 12. The guide tracks 22 are first leveled an secured in position by means of the guide track support means 24. Each one of the guide tracks 22 has on its upper side a plurality of gear teeth 22a extending over the entire length of each guide track 22. Each extendible piston 20 has an outer cylindrical member 200 in which there is rotatably mounted a first shaft 21; shaft 21 having at one end a gear wheel 210 which meshes with the gear teeth 22a of the guide track 22. The cylindrical member 200 also carries a pair of guide rellers 2Ib which are based against the lower surface of the guide track 22 by means of spring 21c. A pair of projecting members 25 extend from the cylindrical member 20a and are secured to each other by a pair of rods 25a which are threaded into the lower one of the pair of projecting members 25 and extend through openings in the upper projecting member 25. The shaft 21 has securely mounted inside of the cylindrical member 20a a first bevel gear wheel 2ld which meshes with a gear wheel 26a of a vertical shaft 26 rotatable mounted within the cylindrical member 200 by means of a pair of projecting members 26b. At the lower end of the shaft 26 there is mounted a second bevel gear wheel 26a which meshes in turn with a bevel gear wheel 27a of a shaft assembly 27. The latter shaft assembly connects the adore-described gear assembly to an identical gear assembly mounted in the opposite extendible piston 20. It can be noted that the shafts 21, rotatably mounted in the extendible pistons 20, each have at one of the ends extending outside of the cylindrical member 200 a crank 28 firmly secured to the shaft 21. Thus by rotating one of the cranks 28 the corresponding shaft 21 will rotate its gear wheel 21a thereby causing the latter to travel along the corresponding gear track 22. Through the gear train connection 21b, 26a, 26, 26b, 27a, 27 the extendible piston assembly on the opposite side of the collector rack will undergo a corresponding movement so that the tile installing means move along the pair of gear tracks 22 when one or both cranks 28 are rotated. As can be noted from FIG. 5 the shaft assembly 27 comprises a hollow member into which extends a shaft 29 rotatably. mounted in opposite walls of each cylindrical member 200. A crank 29a is connected to the end of the shaft 29 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Inside of the cylindrical member 200 there is fixedly mounted a gear wheel 296 on the shaft 29 which meshes with a gear rack 30 extending from a cylindrical member 31 which is guidingly mounted within the cylindrical member 200. A threaded rod 32 is rotatably mounted in the cylindrical member 31 and threadably mounted in a T-shaped member so that the vertical position of the member 90 may be adjusted by turning a nut 33 rigidly mounted on the rod 32. Thus it can be noted that by turning either one of the cranks 29a, mounted in opposite extendible pistons 20, the rods 32 and the pertinent collector rack can be selectively lowered or raised.

The T-shaped member 90 and its connection to the collector rack is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3a and 4. The T-shaped member 90 comprises a neck portion 904 into which the rod 32 is threaded. A lip 90b extends from the T-shaped member 90 and has a slot 90c extending through the lip 90b. The bottom surface 904 of the lip 90b is cambered. The underside of the T-shaped member 90 comprises a plurality of convexly disposed gear teeth 90. Furthermore, a pair of threaded rods 32c are threadably mounted in the legs 32a of the T-shaped member 90. This T-shaped member 90 comprises a frustoconieal portion 321; which connects the neck portion 900 to the oppositely extendig arms 32a. The threaded rods 32c comprise key mating portions 90g at their upper ends and spherical portions 90h at their lower ends. The T-shaped member 90 is adapted to be connected to an intermediate connecting member 100 which also has substantially the shape of a T. The member 100 has a plurality of gear teeth 100: which are arranged concavely and are adapted to mesh with the gear teeth 90 of the T-shaped member 90. Furthermore, the connecting member 100 has a pair of arms 100a in which there are disposed a pair of spherical recesses 40c adapted to receive the spherical ends 90h of the threaded rods 32:. The T-shaped member 90 is connected to the T-shaped member I by means of a threaded bolt 101 which extends through the non-threaded slot 90c of the lip 90b into a threaded hole [010 centrally disposed in a projecting member 101! which is integral with the T-shaped member 100. The T-shaped member I00 is slidably connected with a member 40 forming part of the collector rack. As is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3B the member 40 includes aT-shaped projection 40: which is formed on its top surface as a ball race for ball bearings 40f. The arms 1000 of the T-shaped 100 as well as the central portion thereof are shaped as to form an internal T-shaped recess 100 which is adapted to matingly receive the T-shaped projection 40 and constitutes with its bottom surface a ball race to receive the ball bearings 40!. The connecting member I00 comprises a projection I00f on the underside of which there is provided a gear rack portion 100 The T-shaped recess 100g of the connecting member 100 is somewhat larger than the T- shaped projection 40: of the member 40 of the collector rack. For example, the length of the T-shaped recess 100 may be 1 inch larger than the length of the T-shaped projection 40c thereby permitting a one inch adjustment of the collector rack with respect to the extendable piston means as will be explained hereinafter. Furthermore, the T-shaped recess I003 may be completely closed or may be opened at one end and contain non-illustrated adjustably stop means for adjusting the adjustment length between the member 40 and the member I00.

The collector rack illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a plurality of spaced members, such as the members 40, 42 and 44, each of which are preferably spaced from one another at a distance equal to the span of a single tile when in assembly, while the opposing ends 46 and 48 of each member 40, 42 etc., for instance, are also preferably spaced from one another at a distance substantially equal to a span of the tile in its other dimension. The ends 46, 48 of the spaced members 40, 42, 44 etc. are spanned by two spacer elements 50 of rectangular cross section, from the terminal ends of which, there are provided connector means 52 and 54 which mate with receiving portions, in this embodiment comprising holes 56, of the rectangular member 40, and the triangular members 42 and 44.

The connector means 52 and 54 preferably have a conical shape and a precise thread thereon so that when the spacer elements 50 are threaded into the precisely threaded conical holes 56 the spacer element will always assume the same level position. Each one of the spacer elements 50 is composed of two parts 500 and 50b which are rotatably connected with respect to each other by connecting means shown in dotted line in the drawing.

Thus the threaded conically shaped connector means 52 and 54 may havethreads in the same sense so that the connector means 52 and 54 can be threadably inserted into the holes 56 by turning one half 50a of the spacer element 50 in one direction and the other half 50!: in the other direction. The spaced members 40, 42, 44, etc. also have a cylindrical space element 51 which joins the upper middle portions of the elements 42, 44 etc. v

This element SI comprises similar to the space elements 50 two portions 510 and 51b which are rotatably connected with respect to each other by connecting means shown in dotted line in the drawing. Furthermore, the space elements 51 are provided with connecting means 52 and 54 which preferably have conical shapes and a precise thread and mate with receiving portions in the form of conventional ball bearing supports 42, 44' etc. having respectively conically shaped precisely threaded mating openings 42", 44" etc. which are rotatable in the elements 42, 44 etc. as described hereinabove. The end elements 40 are connected to the adjoining space elements by means of a special space element 53 having conically shaped support portions 54 adapted to tit into precisely threaded conically shaped holes 55' respectively disposed in a receiving element 55 is the form or a conventional ball bearing support rotatably mounted in the element 40 and in another hole conically shaped of the ball bearing support 42'. Thus the space element 53 is rotatably supported by these elements 55 and 42' and is threaded into these elements such, as for example, the space elements 50. The space element 53 has at one of its ends a gear wheel 53a fixedly mounted thereon which is adapted to engage the gear rack of the connecting member I00. Furthermore, the space element 53 comprises a key receiving portion 53b which is adapted to be engaged by a wrench, or the like, for turning the space element 53. As can be noted from FIGS. 2a, 3a, and 4 the element 40 is provided with a pair of bolts 400 which are adapted to be screwed into a wall surface thereby fixing the collector rack in position. Furthermore, the element 40 is provided with additional holes 40d for receiving additional non-illustrated fixing bolts. As can be noted from FIGS. 30 and 4 the element 40 is also provided with projecting portions 40c and receiving slots 40] so that adjoining collector racks can be matingly fitted into each other.

Thus the assembly for each tile comprises a pair of opposite members which are spaced to each other by three spacer elements 50, 51 and are sized to nest over the edge of the area of a tile to be installed. Each one of the aforedescribed assemblies for supporting a tile carries a tile grasping means mounted on the middle spacer element 5] which is cylindrical. This tile grasping means comprises a U-shaped bracket 60 having on its upper leg a bolt 61 threadably mounted therein for securing the U-shaped bracket 60 on to the middle spacer element 51. A support member 62 is swivelably mounted by means of a pivot 63 on the lower leg of the U-shaped support member 60. A rod 64 is slidably mounted in a mating recess in the support member 62. Alternately the rod 64 may have a spherical end (not illustrated) which forms a ball-and-socket joint with the support member 62. A suction cup 65 is slidably mounted on the rod 64 and is biased into its most extended position by means of a spring 66 coaxially mounted on the rod 64. it can be noted from FIG. 2b of the drawing that the tile grasping means can assume two extreme positions one of which is shown in dash dotted lines. it is quite important that guide tracks 22 are mounted in level position so that the installation means operates properly. For this purpose there are provided a plurality of guide tracks support means 24 illustrated in in FIG. 11. Furthermore, there are illustrated in FIG. I0 one of a number of embodiments for adjusting the length of the guide tracks 22. Thus it can be noted that the guide tracks 22 may have end portions 22b which are adapted to mate with each other. One of these and portions 22b comprises a slot 220 whereas the other portion comprises at least two threaded holes 224. The holes 22d are adapted to receive threaded bolts 22 which are adapted to also extend through the slot 22c. Thus the length of the guide tracks 22 can be adjusted by moving a pair of guide track members 22 relative to each other and securing them to each other by inserting end of bolts 2242. Thus the length of the guide tracks 22 can be adjusted by moving a pair of guide track members 22 relative to each other and securing them to each other by inserting the bolts 22c through the slot 22c and threading them into the holes 220'.

The guide track support means 24 are illustrated in detail in FIG. 11. These support means comprise an L-shaped support member 240 having a trapezoidally shaped recess 24b in which there is slidably disposed a member 24c. The L-shaped support member 24a can be acrewed into the wall surface of an adjoining wall by means of a suitable threaded bolt 24d.

The member 240 pivotally supports a pawl member 24c which has a hole 24] adapted to receive the rod 24g of one of the guide tracks 22. There is threadably mounted a bolt 24] in the bottom leg of the member 240 which is adapted to bear against the member 24c. Furthermore, the pawl 240 has a bolt 24 h threadably mounted therein. By adjusting the positions of the bolts 24 and 24h, the horizontal and vertical position of the support for the rack 22 is adjusted by respectively adjusting the vertical position of the member 24c and the angular position of the pawl Me.

It can be further noted in FIG. 9 that the guide tracks 22 can be mounted vertically and be supported by conventional adjustable supporting means comprising a resilient support member 22 on the bottom of the vertical guide track 22 and an adjustable support member 22g threadably mounted at the top end of the guide track 22 and bearing against the ceiling wall of a room in which the tile installing means of the invention are used for mounting tiles on a vertical wall surface. At least two triangular members of a collector rack assembly are provided on their apex with level means, such as for example an air bubble in a container containing a liquid and having a glass surface with level indicia means marked thereon. Thus it can be noted that the level means 700 and 70b are respectively provided on the triangular members 42 and 44 in FlG. 2 a of the drawings. Furthermore, the shaft assembly 27 preferably also has a level indicia means indicating the attitude of the entire installing means.

In operation, after a floor 12 has been correctly prepared and a bed of cement or the like applied to it, a row of tiles is positioned on the tile grasping means by manually placing each tile on a suction cup 65 and these tile grasping means are then properly adjusted so as to place the tiles in alignment with respect to each other. Thereafter the cranks 29a and 28 are manipulated in order to properly level the row of tiles and correctly align them. The tiles are mounted in each collector rack assembly by means of the tile grasping means in such a way that the upper edge surfaces of each tile bear against the triangular members and the spacer elements because the suction cup 65 and spring 66 pull the tile against these members. Thus the collector rack assembly finnly supports a row of tiles. It can be noted from FIG. 1 of the drawing that the end members 40 areprovided with bolts 400 by means of which the entire collector rack assembly can be secured into opposite wall surfaces of the room in which the tiles are being placed. Furthermore, the extendible piston assemblies 20 are provided with threaded through bolts 20b which can be used to space the piston assemblies 20 in position by threading the bolts 20b into adjoining wall surfaces. The extendible pistons 20 together with the shaft assembly 27 are removable from the collector rack assembly by umcrewing the bolt thereby disconnecting each member 90 from the mating member 100. The T-shaped member 90 comprises a pair of arms 32a threadably carrying a pair of bolts 32c which are adapted to engage with their spherically shaped portions 90h the recesses 40c provided in the top of the members 100. By adjusting the relative position of the bolts 32c the angular position of the collector rack assembly with respect to the extendible piston can be adjusted, since the lip 90b with its cambered surface 90:! can pivot on the flat top surface of the projection 101b, the slot 900 permitting a small pivotal movement.

It can further be noted that the piston assemblies 20 can be disconnected from the collector rack by totally unscrewing the bolt 32. It should be noted that in addition to the coarse adjustments which are possible with the cranks 29a and 200 very fine adjustments in the position of the collector rack can be efi'ected by manipulating the bolts 903 the nut 33 as well as the key receiving portion 53b. Thus, a very exact positioning of the collector rack assembly may be affected.

Thus after one row of tiles has been installed by the tile installing means of this invention the bolts 404 are screwed into the opposite wall surfaces and the bolt 10! is unscrewed thereby removing the pair of extendible pistons 20 together with the shaft assembly 27. The collector rack assembly remains in place until the cementitious material 16 has solidified, whereupon the collector rack assembly can be removed by unscrewing the bolts 404. While the row of tiles is thus secured in place a new row of tiles can be installed by the operator by securing a second collector rack assembly to the pair of extendible pistons 20 as described herein before.

The correct positioning of the tiles is primarily carried out by adjusting the position of the collector rack assembly by moving the cranks 2B and 290. Fine adjustments are carried out by adjusting the position of the collector rack assembly by means of the bolts 90g and the nut 33 and the key receiving position 53b. Additional fine adjustments can be carried out by means of the bolts 61.

Lastly it should be noted that the tile installing means of the invention comprises water level indicia means for indicating the position of a tile surface in one room with respect to the tile surface in another room. Furthermore the shaft assembly 27 may also carry in its center region an additional water-airbubble level device to indicate the relative position of the shaft assembly, extendible pistons, and collector rack. The collector rack may carry one more position indicia means indicating the relative position of the tiles in one room with respect to a reference set in another room. Thus it can be noted that in FIG. 1 there is mounted on the center spacer element 51 a water level indicating device comprising a supporting member having a pair of transverse lower legs 8l between which the spacer element 51 can be inserted. The upper transverse leg 81 threadably carries a fixing bolt 82 by means of which the supporting member 80 can be fexedly mounted on the spacer element 50. In addition thereto the supporting member 80 has an upper transverse leg 83 on which there is mounted a water containing position indicating vessel 84. The vessel 84 carries a number of gradations on its outer surface and is preferably made of glass or another suitable plastic transparent material. A hose 85 is connected to the bottom of the vessel 84 and leads to another water containing position indicating vessel 86 which can be mounted in another room in which tiles already have been set or in any other manner to give a reference level with respect to the water level in the vessel 84. As can be noted the vessel 86 is mounted on a shaft or pole 87 which also has indicia for indicating the altitude of a bracket 88 carrying a securing bolt 89 for fixing the brackets to the rod 87 and on which the vessel 86 is mounted.

The device of this invention operates as follows: After the floor 12 has been correctly prepared and a bed of cement or the like has been applied to it, a row of tiles is positioned spanning the area to be covered thereby. The spacer elements and triangular members are them positioned over the row of tiles forming thus the collector rack and, thereafter the extendible pistons 20 are manipulated to extend the terminals ends thereof and thus apply a force to the row of tiles from above or transversely in the event the tiles are mounted on a wall. The beveled edges of the spacer elements and triangular members apply a firm pressure to securely embed the tiles within the adhesive comprising the bed, and the tiles are held in correct relation with respect to one another. Once the force has been applied, the level is checked with the level means 70a, 70b, 27a, 84, and 85 and the collector rack position is adjusted by any supplementary force application or adjustement of bolts so that the tiles are all at the desired level. Thereafter, the extendible pistons are manipulated to relieve the pressure and are disconnected from the collector rack after the latter has been secured into opposite walls by means of the bolts 40a. The extendible pistons 20 are then moved to mount an adjacent row of tiles into the adhesive layer. In this fashion the rows and columns of tiles are applied to the floor ar the wall and the force applying means represented by the extendible pistons 20 are moved along the guide tracks or members 22 to any required location as the progress continues.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such plurality of preferred embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in applying similarly sized tile to a prepared bed, a tile installing system comprising, a tile collecting means, a force applying means, and guide track means, said collector means comprising a plurality of spaced members defining discrete areas slightly smaller than and corresponding to the size of the tile to be installed, said areas being in aligned, side-byside relation, said collector Means including an upper portion said force applying means comprising a pair of extendible pistons having a first withdrawn position and a second position of extension, each piston being extendible a common distance, and a cylinder captivating said piston and including an operator means for extending the piston into and out of pressing engagement with the upper, portion of the collector means, and said guide track means comprising a pair of guide tracks to movably support said force applying means above the collector means and within the range of the length of extension of the piston, whereby when the guide track means are positioned above a floor to which tile is be installed at a common height within said range, the piston may be extended to apply force to the collector means to transmit forces to tile secured beneath the collector means.

2. The device as set forth in claim I wherein the upper portion includes gear teeth means within the path of movement of extension of the piston and the terminal end of the piston is provided with companion gear teeth means.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 which includes leveling means.

4. The device as set forth in claim I wherein the collector means comprises a plurality of interconnected members including spaced triangular members and spacer elements interconnecting the triangular members along a base line, the base line of the triangular members and the spacer elements bounding said area slightly less than the area of tiles to be installed and with the apexes of the triangular members including said upper portion.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of closely adjacent gear teeth means.

II 1 i I 

1. For use in applying similarly sized tile to a prepared bed, a tile installing system comprising, a tile collecting means, a force applying means, and guide track means, said collector means comprising a plurality of spaced members defining discrete areas slightly smaller than and corresponding to the size of the tile to be installed, said areas being in aligned, side-by-side relation, said collector Means including an upper portion said force applying means comprising a pair of extendible pistons having a first withdrawn position and a second position of extension, each piston being extendible a common distance, anD a cylinder captivating said piston and including an operator means for extending the piston into and out of pressing engagement with the upper, portion of the collector means, and said guide track means comprising a pair of guide tracks to movably support said force applying means above the collector means and within the range of the length of extension of the piston, whereby when the guide track means are positioned above a floor to which tile is be installed at a common height within said range, the piston may be extended to apply force to the collector means to transmit forces to tile secured beneath the collector means.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper portion includes gear teeth means within the path of movement of extension of the piston and the terminal end of the piston is provided with companion gear teeth means.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 which includes leveling means.
 4. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the collector means comprises a plurality of interconnected members including spaced triangular members and spacer elements interconnecting the triangular members along a base line, the base line of the triangular members and the spacer elements bounding said area slightly less than the area of tiles to be installed and with the apexes of the triangular members including said upper portion.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of closely adjacent gear teeth means. 